Internal combustion engine



Aug. 23,1932. J. c. EVANS INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Oct; 5, 1927 INVENTOR. BY flIfl/J 52/ fZQL, 71 M A TTORNEY.

man A; a, 1932 Y 1,373,324

unrreo sr ras PAraNr orrlca JAMES CLARK EVANS, E DETROIT, MIQHIGAN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Application filed October 3, 1927. Serial No. 223,498.

This invention relates to internal combusthere be intimately mixed with the combustion engines and particularly to combustion tible mixture therein. chambers therefor, the principal object being A further object is to provide a combustion the provision of a combustion chamber of new chamber for internal combustion engines in and novel design. which a bai'fie is provided for protecting the 55 Another ob'ect is to provide a combustion spark plug a ainst direct contact with the chamber for internal combustion engines so lubricating oi particles carried in the comshaped that the combustible mixture enterbustible mixture on the compression and exing the same through the inlet port is directhaust strokes. ed into contact with the exhaust valve where- The above being among ,the objects of the m by to effect a cooling of the same. present invention, the same consists in certain Another object is to provide a combustion features of construction and combinations of chamber for internal combustion engines so parts to be hereinafter described with refershaped that the combustible mixture on the ence to the accompanying drawing; and then compression stroke is directed over and into claimed, having t e above and 0t er objects as contact with the exhaust valve whereby to In view. effect a coolin of the same. In the accompanying drawing which illuse Another ob ect is to "provide a combustion trates a suitable embodiment of the present chamber for internal combustion en ines in invention and in which like numerals refer which the greater percentage of com ustible to like parts throughout the several different :0

mixture on the compression stroke is caused views,- to circulate over the exhaust valve thereby Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional tending to cool the same. view taken through the head of an internal Another object is to provide a combustion combustion engine provided with a combuschamber for internal combustion engines so tion chamber constructed in accordance with 7 formed as to direct the exhaust gases on the the present invention, taken as on the line exhaust stroke into the exhaust port. 11 of Fig. 2.

Another object is to provide a combustion Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the chamber for internal combustion engines in combustion chamber shown in connection which the main portion of the same is oiiset with the engine in Fig. 1. gofrom the cylinder bore and is connected there- Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line to by a tangential passage of radually de- 3-3 of Fig. 2. creasing area whereby the com ustible mix- Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 ture entering the cylinder is caused to swirl of Fig. 2. I I in the cylinder and on the compression stroke Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive are diagrammatic secat is caused to swirl in the combustion chamber tional views of the combustion chamber taken I thereby effecting a turbulence of the mixture on the lines 5-5 to 9-9 inclusive of Fig. 2. productive to rapid flame propagation in the It'is well known in the art that one of the mixture. most prolific causes of trouble in o crating Another objectis to provideagourd-shaped internal combustion engines at higii speeds combustion chamber for internal combustion is the difficulty of being able to adequately engines, the greater percentage of the volume cool the exhaust valve, such valves invariably of the combustion chamber being ofiset in becoming over-heated with resulting distorrelation to the cylinder bore and being joined tion and pitting, which results in the conse- 15 thereto by a tapering tangential passage, the quent impairment of the proper functioning 95 head of the piston adapted to closely approach of the engine. It is one of the objects in the the cylinder head at the end of each upward present invention to provide a combustion stroke whereby to cause substantially all of chamber so designed as to direct the combusthe residuary burnt gases in the cylinder to tible mixture before explosion into contact be driven into the combustion chamber and with the exhaust valve and thereby absorb V described, it will heat from the same, materially aiding in the cooling of the valve.

It is also well recognized in the art that Y turbulence of the combustlble mixture is mixture before explosion, a more uniform explosion takes place and the phenomenon of spark knocking is eliminated, and the present invention provides inder being provided with a suitable piston 17.

The engine shown is of L-head type, the intak . y a tail-like portion 23.

. As indicated in Fig.2 the main body portion ofthe combustion chamberis somewhat elliptiea in plan view and the tail-like portion 23 the cylinder 15 is curved of split beshows that the greatest depth of the combustion chambe portion 23, is adjacent the outer edge thereof, thus tend combustion chamber in lan view may be aptly described as shaped like a comma, the tail of the comma connecting the body'or main portion of the combustion chamber with the mote from the tail.

As far as the construction has thus been be apparent that the combustible mixture drawn through the port 18 the main body portion of the chamber 22 with the cylinder 15, connects the r, particularly in the tail-likeing to impart a more forcible rogases and hinder and past the valve 20 on the intake stroke of the piston 17 will he directed over the exhaust valve 21 in its passage to the cylinder 15, and that on the compression stroke substantially all of the combustible mixture will be driven back in to the. main body portion of the combustion chamber and will, because of its circular formation, be caused to swirl around and in contact with the ex- The repeated contact of the relatively cool combustible mixture thus coming in contact with the exhaust valve '21 will tend to absorb heat from the same and cool it, thus materially aiding in preventing the temperature of the exhaust valve 21 from reaching a temperature dangerous to its life and proper functioning.

In order to further induce contact of combustible mixture with the exhaust valve 19, I prefer to form a pair of bafiles 25 and 26 on the interior of the combustion chamber and so situate-d as to direct the combustible mixture entering the combustion chamber through the port 18 downwardly into contact haust valve 21.

stroke of the piston 17, downwardly into contact with the exhaust valve 21, the bafile 25 ing so situated also provides an additional desirable feature in that it also serves to direct the exhaust gas into the exhaust port 19 on the exhaust stroke of the piston 17 when the exhaust valve 21 is lifted from its seat. The baffle 26 also provides an additional desirable feature in that the spark plug 27 which is preferably positioned behind the same is protected from oil particles carried by the comthe exhaust gases and hich would otherwise im inge upon the same thereby tending to buil d up carbon deposits in the spark plug and otherwise foul 1 which connects portion 23 combustion Inasmuch as the at a tangent to the surface thereof and at a gradual angle to a plane perpendicular to its ax combustible mixture entering the cylinder 1 be apparent that no dead pockets are provided which might collect exhaust the subsequent mixture of the same with the combustible mixture. Because of these things the combustible mixture, before explosion, has become a homogeneous mixture particularly favorable to s, it will be apparent that the rapid flame propagation and absence from detonating effects.

Formal changes may be made in the spe cific embodiment of the invention described without departing from the spirit or substance of the broad invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a piston reciprccable therein, a combustion chamber, intake and exhaust valves opening into said chamber, and battling means formed on a wall of said chamber for directing substantially all of the combustible mixture entering said combustion chamber on the suction stroke of said piston downwardly into contact with said exhaust valve both on said suction stroke and on the compression stroke of said piston.

2. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a piston reciprocable therein, a combustion chamber the main portion of which is off-set from the cylinder and connected thereto by a restricted passage, intake and exhaust ports opening into said chamber, and battling means. formed on the roof of said chamber for directing the exhaust gases downwardly into said exhaust port on the exhaust stroke of said piston and protecting the spark plug of the engine.

3. In an internal combustion engine of the L-head type, a combustion chamber, an

exhaust valve and an intake valve opening,

into said chambeigfind bailing means integral with a wall of said chamber for directing combustible mixture entering said chamber past said intake valve downwardly into contact with said exhaust valve.

4. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a piston reciprocable therein, a combustion chamber off-set from said cylinder and connected therewith by a restricted passage, said combustion chamber serving as substantially the entire combustion volume when said piston is at the point of greatest compression, an intake and an exhaust valve in said chamber, and means formed on the top surface of said combustion chamber for directing the combustible mixture downwardly on the compression stroke into contact with said exhaust valve and protecting the spark plug of the engine.

5. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a combustion chamber comprising a main portion and a lesser portion, said main portion being approximately elli tical in plan View and lying wholly to one si e of said cylinder, an intake and an exhaust port opening into said combustion chamber, and said lesser portion being of less average width than the radius of said cylinder and connect ing a side of said main portion with a side of said cylinder said lesser portion being of triangular formation in transverse section.

v 6. In an internal combustion engine, a cyl inder, a piston reciprocable therein, and a combustion chamber comprising a main portion and a lesser portion, said main portion being approximately elliptical in plan View and lying wholly to one side of the bore of said cylinder, an intake and an exhaust port openinginto said main portion, and said lesser portion connecting said main portion at a point adjacent said exhaust port and relatively remote from said intake port with a side of said cylinder, said lesser portion being of less average width than the radius of said cylinder and being of triangular formation in said lesser portion. a

7. In an internal combustion engine, a cylind'er, a piston reciprocable therein, a combustion chamber, said combustion chamber comprising a main portion of approximately elliptical shape lying wholly outside the bore of said cylinder and a lesser portion connecting said main portion with said cylinder, said lesser portion being of less average width than the radius of said cylinder and curving outwardly of a line tangent to both said main portion andsaid cylinder and gradually decreasing in cross-sectional area from said main portion to said cylinder, the greatest depth of said lesser portion lying outwardly of its vertical center-line.

8. In an internal combustion engine, in combination, a cylinder, a combustion chamwill ber comprising a main portion and a sin le' lesser portion disposed substantially entire y on one side of the axis of said cylinder, said main portion being substantially elliptical in plan View and lying substantially outwardly of the walls of said cylinder, said lesser portion connecting said main portion with said cylinder, and valves opening into said main portion, said lesser portion being of less average width than the radius of said cylinder,

' and extending from one end of said main portion to the opposite side of said cylinder from said valves, the outer line of said lesser portion in plan view representing a point travelling on a part of an elliptical path.

9. In an internal combustion engine, in combinatioma cylinder, a combustion chamber comprising a main portion and, a single lesser portion disposed substantially entirely on one side of the axis of said cylinder, said -main portion lying substantially outwardly portion in plan view representing a point travelling on a part of an elliptical path, and being tangent at its ends to the outer surface of said main portion and to said cylinder.

- 10. In an mternal combustion engine, in combination, a cylinder, a combustion cham- Ber comprising a main portion and a lesser portion, said main portion lying substantially wholly outwardly of the walls of said cylinder, said lesser portion connecting said main portion with said cylinder, and an intake and an exhaust valve opening into said main por tion, said lesser portion being of less average width than the radius of said cylinder and extendin from said main portion to the opposite si e of said cylinder and being curved outwardly and being disposed wholly outwardly of the axis of said cylinder in plan view, said lesser portion being triangular in cross section with that side of said trian 1e most remote fromvthe axis of said cylin er positioned in substantially parallel relationship with respect to the axis of said cylinder.

11. In an engine of the character described, a cylinder, a piston, a c linder head having a primary val've contro led combustion chamber to oneside of the cylinder and I having a secondary combustion chamber communicating with the primary chamber sloping downwardly therefrom above the piston face and curving about the axis of the piston, said cylinder head provided with a wall having a minimum clearance above the remainder of the piston face when the piston is at the upper limit of its stroke.

12. In an engine of the character described, acylinder, a piston, a cylinder head having a valve combustion chamber formed therein to one side of the cylinder and also having a secondary combustion chamber formed therein communicating with the valve combust ion chamber, the volume of said secondary chamber being materially smaller than the volume of the valve combustion chamber, said secondary chamber extending beyond a plane passing through adjacent piston axes and to one side of the associated piston axis, said cylinder head having a portion thereof providing minimum clearance above the remainder of the piston face when the piston is in the outer limit of its travel.

13. In an engine of the character'described, a cylinder, a piston, a cylinder head having a valve combustion chamber formed therein to one side of the cylinder and also having a secondary combustion chamber formed therein communicating with the valve combustion chamber, the volume of said secondary chamber being materially smaller than the volume of the valve combustion chamber, said secondary chamber extending beyond a plane passing through adjacent piston axes and to one side of the associated piston axis, said cylinder head having a portion providing minimum clearance above the remainder of the piston face when the pistonis in the outer limit of its travel, the portion of the piston face covered by the secondary chamer being less than the said minimum clearance portion thereof.

14. In an engine of the character described, a cylinder, a piston, a cylinder head having a primary valve controlled combustion chamber to one side of the cylinder and also having a secondary combustion chamber above a portion of the cylinder communicating with the primary chamber, said secondary cham ber curving substantially crescent-shaped about the axis of the piston and extending at least to the engine longitudinal plane containing the iston axis but terminating short of that portion of the transverse plane of the engine containing the piston axis extending on the opposite side from the primary chamber of t provided with a Wall having a minimum clearance over the remainder of the piston face when the piston is at the upper limit of its stroke.

15. In an engine of the character described, a cylinder, a piston, a cylinder head having a primary valve controlled combustion chamber to one side of the cylinder and also having a secondary combustion chamber e longitudinal plane of the engine containing the piston axis, said cylinder head communicating with the primary chamber ber to one side of the cylinder and also having a secondary combustion chamber above a portion of the cylinder communicating with the primary chamber, said secondary chamber curving about the axis of the piston and terminating short of the engine transverse plane through the piston axis, said cylinder head provided with a wall having a minimum clearance over the remainder/of the piston face when the piston is at the upper limit of its stroke, and intake and exhaust valves for said primary chamber arranged to provide cooling of the exhaust valve by the intake gases passing from the primary chamber to the cylinder.

17 In an engine of the character described, a cylinder, a piston, a cylinder head having a primary valve controlled combustion chamber to one side of the cylinder and also having a secondary combustion chamber above a portion of the cylinder communicating with the primary chamber, said secondary chamber curving substantially crescent shaped about the axis of the piston and extending at least to the engine longitudinal plane con- 5 taining the piston axis but terminating short of the engine transverse plane contaimng the piston axis, said cylinder head provided with a wall having a minimum clearance over the v remainder of the piston face when the'piston m is at the upper limit of itsostroke, and intake and exhaust valves for said primary chamber arranged to provide cooling of the exhaust valve by the intake gases passing from the primary chamber to the cylinder. 15 JAMES CLARK EVANS. 

